Japan lifts PW4000-powered Boeing 777 ban

The Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism (MLIT) has lifted a country-wide ban on the operation of all B777 Family aircraft powered with Pratt & Whitney PW4000 Family engines.

“The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has been working closely with the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the government of the designing and manufacturing country, and the manufacturer to evaluate the recurrence prevention measures. Now that the technical evaluation has been completed and the validity of the recurrence prevention measures has been confirmed, we will permit the resumption of commercial operation of the aircraft on the condition that the recurrence prevention measures are implemented,” the regulator said.

The MLIT has ordered the operators to increase non-invasive inspections of engine fan blades, strengthen inlet cowls, and perform necessary repairs to prevent fire from breaking out. The measures are in line with the recommendations of the FAA.

All PW4000-powered B777s were banned in Japan after an uncontained engine failure on a United Airlines’ B777-200 in February 2021. On top of the overflights of foreign-registered aircraft, the decision grounded twenty aircraft operated by ANA – All Nippon Airways and thirteen by JAL – Japan Airlines. ANA subsequently retired its seven B777-300s powered by this engine.

The ch-aviation fleets advanced module shows that only nineteen PW4000-powered B777s remain in Japan, including ten aircraft operated by ANA (two B777-200s and eight B777-200(ER)s) and nine by JAL (five -200s and four -300s).

The FAA issued a safety directive outlining the modifications necessary for the return to commercial service of PW4000 engines in the country on March 11, 2022.